The 1860 Henderson Fire

The fire of August 5, 1860 in Henderson, Texas, marked the beginning of the end of the Union in Texas. As a successful agricultural and commercial center, Henderson was one of the most important cities in Texas. Fires erupted all over Texas during the extremely hot summer of 1860, and Texans were becoming afraid and angry that their towns were burning at the hands of northern abolitionists and slaves. By the time the fire in Henderson burned the entire business district of the town, people all over the state were ready to fight for their way of life. This fire is argued to be what ignited Texan secession. By September of 1860, news of the Henderson fire had reached all over the country, from New York city to San Francisco. Fifty-two citizens were selected in Henderson to investigate the fire, and they hanged Green Herndon and his female slave for setting the fire. Evidence of guilt or innocence is unknown. Louis T. Wigfall wasted no time using the fire to rally Texans to the banner of secession. “the secession flood in Texas” was too strong for leaders like Sam Houston to resist, and a draft of Texas’ formal Declaration of Causes for Secession was drawn up by Texas delegates, among them Rusk County’s Malcom D. Graham. Graham laid the blame for the fire on northern abolitionists and their political allies. The delegates approved Graham’s Declaration and when compiling a chronology of events leading to secession, listed the burning of Henderson first, as the end of the Union in Texas.

The 1860 Henderson Fire is a historical marker in Henderson, Rusk County, dedicated in 2014. It is one of 72 historical markers documented in Rusk County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 184 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 32.1534, -94.7994 near Henderson. The nearest cataloged historic site is Rusk County Courthouse (courthouse), about under a tenth of a mile away. Others within a short drive include Henderson, Morris, William Wright, Judge, and Craig, William, Rev..

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5507017979. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.